The ren'youkei + たい (tai) means "to want", and expresses
the desire of the "first and second person": I, you, or
we. The auxiliary verb たい (tai) is a verbal adjective like ない (nai)
and is conjugated accordingly.
Unlike with extensions like ren'youkei + て (te) and ren'youkei
+ た (ta), there are no contractions with たい (tai). The ～たい (-tai)
form cannot be used with verbal adjectives.
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見たい。(Mitai.)
I want to see it.
読みたいです。 (Yomitai desu.)
I want to read it. |
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Interestingly both が (ga) and を (wo) can be used for the object
of desire.
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何が食べたいですか。(Nani ga tabetai desu ka.)
What would you like to eat?
何を食べたいですか。(Nani wo tabetai desu ka.)
What would you like to eat? |
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The version with を (wo) is more common, but both are equally correct.
There are however instances where が (ga) cannot be used:
| When combined with compound verbs: |
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ページが印刷したい。 (Peeji
ga insatsu shitai.) (incorrect)
ページを印刷したい。 (Peeji wo insatsu
shitai.)
I want to print the page. |
| |
| When the object indicates a point of departure
or the location of an action: |
| |
この通りが歩きたい。 (Kono toori
ga arukitai.) (incorrect)
この通りを歩きたい。 (Kono toori wo
arukitai.)
I want to walk along this street. |
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| When the object isn't placed directly in front
of the main (or closing) verb: |
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家が来年買いたい。 (Ie ga
rainen kaitai.) (incorrect)
家を来年買いたい。 (Ie wo rainen kaitai.)
I want to buy a house next year. |
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| When the sentence is an expression or saying: |
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足が洗いたい。 (Ashi ga
araitai.) (incorrect)
足を洗いたい。 (Ashi wo araitai.)
I want to leave the life of crime. (Literally: I want to wash
my feet.) |
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| In combination with certain constructions: |
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スーツケースが置いておきたい。 (Suutsukeesu
ga oite okitai.) (incorrect)
スーツケースを置いておきたい。 (Suutsukeesu wo
oite okitai.)
I want to put the suitcases down. |
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| When using verbs that describe inflicting damage
or harm: |
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骨が折りたくない。 (Hone ga
oritakunai.) (incorrect)
骨を折りたくない。 (Hone wo oritakunai.)
I don't want to break any bones. |
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Ren'youkei + たい (tai) and the polite form
The ren'youkei + たい (tai) can only be made polite by adding です (desu)
to it. You cannot add たい to the polite verb ます (masu).
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インドに行きましたい。 (Indo
ni ikimashitai.) (incorrect)
インドに行きたいです。 (Indo ni ikitai
desu.)
I want to go to India. |
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Ren'youkei + たい (tai) and the negative form
The ren'youkei + たい (tai) can only be made polite by adding ない (nai)
to the mizenkei conjugation of たい (tai). You cannot add たい to the
ren'youkei conjugation of ない (nai).
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あれを食べなくたい。 (Are wo
tabenakutai.) (incorrect)
あれを食べたくない。 (Are wo tabetakunai.)
I don't want to eat that. |
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Related pages:
Ren'youkei
+たがる (tagaru)
Ren'youkei
+て (te)
Desiderative
forms |
